The red tide is one of the oldest phenomena of human history. It is traced back to the Jurassic age, one million years ago, when the Earth underwent a number of geological changes that lead to phytoplankton bloom. It began to appear in Japan three hundred thousand years BC. It also appeared in Florida, United States of America in 1878 AC, and in India 1935 AC. While in the States of Arab Gulf and Oman Gulf, it appeared as follows:
Table 1 shows the first record of red tide in the Arab Gulf Countries.
| 1 |
Sultanate of Oman (Salala) |
1976 |
Fish |
| 2 |
Kingdom of Bahrain and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia |
1987 |
Mammals, Birds and Sea Star |
| 3 |
Sultanate of Oman |
1988 |
Fish and Marine Organisms |
| 4 |
Kuwait |
1999 |
Fish |
| 5 |
Iran |
1996 |
Fish |
| 6 |
UAE |
2000 |
Fish |
The Arab Gulf region has witnessed the dyeing-off of fish and other marine organisms since 1986. This is attributed to the oil and chemical contamination, high temperatures, reduced oxygen, and existence of chlorine substance in the power plant.
The red tide in UAE in 2008-2009
The red tide appeared for the first time in Kalba region in August 28, 25008, as viewed by the fishermen.
The red ride expanded along the eastern coast in different degrees until Dibba Al Hissin area on September 8, 2008.
It continued and escalated in the eastern coast so far.
It appeared in the Arab Gulf on the coast of RAK Emirate earlier in November, and then disappeared.
It appeared again in RAK early in September, 2008 and spread along most of the country coasts, through Umm Al Quwain, Ajman, Sharjah and to parts of Dubai coasts on 23/12/2008 according to testimonies of fishermen and images of Satellites sent by the Regional Organization for the Protection of Marine Environment (ROPME). Added to that, the technical team from the Marine Environmental Research Center with the Ministry that closely observes the phenomenon.
It appeared again in early in February, 2009 and spread along most of the country coasts, through Umm Al Quwain, Ajman, Sharjah and to parts of Dubai coasts. It recorded perished fish in the Emirates of Umm Al Quwain, Humaria, Sharjah and eastern coast.
It appeared again late in March, 2009 in RAK with a record of perished fish in Umm Al Quwain and eastern coast.
It appeared again early in September, from 1 to 9, 2009 and spread along most of the country eastern coast. The red tide is concentrated in Diba region, from Diba al-Hisn port to Al-Faqit Reservation and Khurkan, and Fujairah from Marbah port to Raghailat port, and Kalba port. It exists separetely and scarecely on the coasts and largely in the ports. No perishing of fish or marine organisms was noticed.
The red tide appeared again on September 10, 2009 and spread to some of the eastern coastal area in the country. It separately and scarcely exists in Khufan, al-Faqit Reservation and is about 15-20 m away from the Coast. No perishing of fish or marine organisms was noticed.
The red tide diminished along the eastern coast from 11 to 13 of September 2009
The red tide was noticed to be reduced into low ratios in Dibba al-Hisn on September 15, 2009.
Analysis Findings, Seawater Properties and Hydrographic Measurements
1- The water temperature ranges from 33 to 34°.
2- The coastal water along the red tide coasts was characterized by moderate concentration of oxygen ranging from 4.5-5 mg/l.
3- The reading of pH was between 8.1 – 8.3.
4- The salinity ratio ranged between 39-40 proportion percent.
Toxicity Tests
The toxicity tests showed that there are no toxic kinds of phytoplankton that cause red tide, and not perished fish or other marine organisms were noticed.
Factors inductive to red tide
The red tide was probably caused by the climate changes and accompanying phenomenon
1- The Monsoon season.
2- Upwelling that carries the materials rich of nutrients and viscles from the bottom up to the sea surface water.
3- Nino Phenomenon represented in the the heating of Indian Ocean, Arab Sea, Arab Gulf an Oman Gulf.